Qinwen Zheng has announced that she is back with her original coach, Pere Riba.
Zheng and Riba’s history
Asian Games gold medalist Qinwen Zheng announced her breakup with her coach of over two years, Pere Riba, just before Roland Garros this year.
Following their different paths throughout the tennis world, Zheng recruited Wim Fissette, while Pere Riba was brought on as Brad Gilbert’s co-coach for the World No. 3 player, Coco Gauff.
Over the course of several months, both camps saw individual sporting triumphs; Gauff secured her maiden grand slam at the US Open, while Zheng secured the gold medal in the Asian Games.
After her success at the Asian Games, Zheng also made waves at the Zhengzhou Open. In the prestigious tournament, she was able to win her first WTA 500 title, propelling her for the first time into the WTA’s top 20 rankings.
Amid her triumphs, however, it was reported that Zheng had fallen out with her new coach, Fisette. Several reports claim that Fissette breached his agreement with Zheng in order to rejoin Naomi Osaka as coach.
Upset by the turnout of events, Zheng expressed her disappointment and said that breaking the contract was, for her, ‘immoral’. Zheng announced the news near the end of September.
Meanwhile, Riba, who was notably absent during Gauff’s stint at the WTA finals in Cancun, Mexico, also announced that he’s stepping back for “personal and family health reasons.”
Zheng is back with Riba
In her latest Instagram post, Zheng formally announced that she is back under the tutelage of her former coach, Riba, and that they’re ready “to embark on the journey together and prepare for the upcoming year.”
Qinwen Zheng announced she’s back working with Pere Riba for the 2024 season.
“Reunited after some time apart, ready to embark on the journey together & prepare for the upcoming year.”
Pere starting coaching Qinwen in 2021, but they split in 2023.
Back to business. 🇨🇳 pic.twitter.com/kJ7cpknAcw
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) December 3, 2023
While some people rejoiced at the news of their reunion, there were others who were not so happy.
One X user recalled how Zheng got mad at her old coach for going back to Naomi Osaka, a player he coached for two years, and how this time Riba left Gauff’s team and reunited with her, calling the circumstances ‘weird.’
Funny thing today I saw, Qinwen Zheng was mad at her old coach for going back to Osaka, Pere Riba left team Coco Gauff "To spend time with family"
Now reunited with Qinwen Zheng
Weird. pic.twitter.com/nvaSQNIVLN
— pat (Duke (in piss) & Nico Jarry propagandist) (@Patkk151515) December 4, 2023
Jose Morgado, a tennis journalist, also called the situation ‘strange’.
This Riba-Gauff-Zheng situation is… very strange.
But good for Qinwen!
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) December 4, 2023
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